Injury Updates: Lee, Utley, Brown, Thome, Herndon

Update, 4:37 pm: The beat reporters traveling with the squad in Atlanta have reported that Cliff Lee is getting closer to a return. He threw a pain-free bullpen session today. He’ll toss one more within the next week and could be activated from the DL shortly thereafter. Lee says he did feel something during some workouts, but did not when he pitched. He says it’s slowly getting better.

Ryan Lawrence of the Delco Times had an update on Chase Utley.

David Herndon has a flexor pronator strain in his pitching elbow. He won’t throw for three weeks. Brian Sanches took his spot on the roster after he was DL’ed on Monday

2:48: pm: As reported by Jim Salisbury of Comcast Sports Net, the Phillies have sent 1B Jim Thome to the DL with a lower back strain and have recalled C Erik Kratz. Thome, 41, strugged in 21 plate appearances, hitting only two singles and drawing three walks while striking out 10 times. Kratz, 31, has been on fire in Triple-A hitting .292/.333/.500 with 4 doubles and 2 HRs and will help fill a bench that remains devoid of right-handed hitters.

Salisbury pointed out Dom Brown is hitting .253 in Triple-A with no HRs and would likely not receive consistent playing time had he been called up. Salisbury also noted that popular Spring Training players Scott Podsednik and Hector Luna also are struggling in Triple-A, hitting .185 and .235 respectively. Kratz’s move did not require a 40-man roster move as Kratz is the third catcher on the 40-man roster.